Tatsuzo Shimaoka lives in Mashiko, Japan, a town well known for its pottery traditions. He originally studied pottery at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and then apprenticed to Shoji Hamada before starting his own kiln and complex next door in 1953. His signature technique of jomon zogon (rope impressed inlay) earned him the honor of Japanese Living National Treasure in 1996. Shimaoka has also influenced many potters starting their careers. As he apprenticed to Hamada, Ken Matszuaki and Noriyasu Tsuchiya apprenticed to Shimaoka, continuing the tradition of potter and apprentice.
Shimaoka's work can be found in some of the most notable museums worldwide, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, and the Tokyo Folk Art Museum. Recently, pieces have been accepted in to collections of the museum at the Rhode Island School of Design, and the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.
林天佑TATSUZO SHIMAOKA（韩国陶艺家）Ashtray
Stoneware
5.8 x 15 x 13.2 cm
